Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Robbery.

Wednesday, 19 May 1971

Mr. Harte:asked the Minister for Justice if any report has been received regarding a robbery at a premises (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement in relation thereto.

Mr. O'Malley:If the Deputy has a specific question to ask about a particular crime, I will see if I can answer it without breach of confidence or without hampering the efforts of the Garda Síochána to investigate it. I could not, however, agree to answer a question in such general terms as this. As the House is aware, thousands of crimes are committed every year.

Mr. Harte:I understood that I submitted details of the particular question which relates to the robbery of a jeweller's shop in Ballyshannon on 2nd of this month at 2 a.m. in the morning.

Mr. O'Malley:I am aware of this incident but I cannot make a general statement about any or every crime committed in the country.

Mr. Harte:Is the Minister aware that those who are thought to be responsible for this are well known to the gardaí, that they used a 1964 Ford Consul Classic which is about the worst car the Ford empire ever built and that the patrol car——

Mr. O'Malley:The gardaí have a very good idea, as the Deputy is probably aware, that these people crossed the Border.

Mr. Harte:They did, of course, cross the Border, after two of our patrol cars had broken down.

Mr. O'Malley:That is not correct.

Mr. Harte:That is correct.

Mr. O'Malley:It is not correct.

Mr. Harte:The Ballyshannon patrol car which gave chase when the lady who lives in the premises notified the gardaí broke down at——

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:A discussion is not in order.

[2002]Mr. Harte:——and that furthermore the Letterkenny patrol car which took up the chase in Stranorlar——

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:A discussion is now taking place on a question.

Mr. Harte:Since September of last year, and particularly since January this year, I have been trying to impress on the Minister for Justice the urgency of providing equipment for the gardaí in Donegal——

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:The Deputy is making a statement on the matter.

Mr. O'Malley:Two patrol cars did not break down. One patrol car broke down. Any car, whether a Garda car or not, is liable to break down occasionally.

Mr. Harte:I accept that but is the Minister not defending his position when he refuses to provide good patrol cars for the gardaí to perform their duties in the Border county of Donegal when he tells us that any car can break down? Is it not extremely peculiar that the Ballyshannon patrol car broke down at Barnes Gap and that the Letterkenny patrol car, giving chase at Stranorlar, broke down in Killygordon——

Mr. O'Malley:It did not break down.

Mr. Harte:Well, what happened? Why did a 1964 Ford Consul outpace two patrol cars? The occupants abandoned it at the Border and walked across——

Mr. O'Malley:My information is that they did not abandon it.

Mr. Harte:Of course, they abandoned it.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:Question No. 76.

Mr. Harte:This is a very important matter and it is not good enough for the Minister——

Mr. O'Malley:On a point of order, if I were to go into every single one [2003] of the 30,000 indictable crimes committed in the country I think the House would have no time for any other business.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:We cannot have a discussion on a question.

Mr. Harte:I know we cannot have a discussion on every crime but it is damnable that such a situation should be tolerated by the Minister for Justice——

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:Question No. 76.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. O'Malley:I am not in favour of promoting a tenant-purchase scheme——

Mr. Harte:On a point of order, the least I expect from the Minister for Justice is simple courtesy.

Mr. O'Malley:The Chair called Question No. 76 several times.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:The Deputy was allowed a number of supplementary questions.

Mr. Harte:I want an assurance from the Minister that the cars supplied to the gardaí will be of such standard that if they go chasing robbers they will be in a reasonable——

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:Then the Deputy should put down a specific question to that effect. Question No. 76.

Mr. Harte:How could I be more specific than when I give details of the case involved?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:And he could ask the Minister to make a statement on the matter.

Mr. Harte:And the Minister refuses.

Mr. O'Malley:I do refuse to make a statement. I am perfectly within my rights.

[2004]Mr. Harte:And the Minister denies that two patrol cars for which he is responsible broke down.